YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE
Opening Prayer
Jesus, You are the joy of my life. May I find my meaning in Your presence today.
Read MARK 16:9–20
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Reflect
Have you ever experienced a “light bulb moment” with God? How did it make you feel?This section is not found in all manuscripts of Mark but as Tom Wright says, ‘it can prompt us to think about our own discipleship’ (Tom Wright, Mark for Everyone, SPCK, p224). Imagine the excitement of those two who encountered Jesus on the road (12; Luke 24:13–35). I’ll wager they ran back to the disciples pretty quickly!
We make much of Christmas today, yet it’s only part of the story. Without Easter we can have little idea of its significance. I suspect that none of the disciples began to get the whole picture until Jesus entered that room (14). There is nothing like welcoming the presence of the Almighty! We have to see the Jesus story through to the end: new life with the Lord in heaven.
So we have walked with Jesus, His disciples, His betrayer, His crucifiers, and also those who sought to anoint His wounds, but instead found themselves anointed by His presence. Two thousand years on, we too can be anointed by His presence. He calls to us in the ‘breaking of bread’ (14). Can we say ‘Thank you, Lord’ and invite Him in?
Apply
Whether you have the elements to use or not, take time now to think and pray through the communion Scripture passages in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and thank Jesus for His sacrifice.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, we receive You with joy! Fill us to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit that our joy be all the greater and everlasting!
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